Chapter 406
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE LEASE AND CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NORTH BRANCH LIBRARY AND EAST BRANCH LIBRARY BUILDINGS IN THE TOWN OF WATERTOWN.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the city known as the town of Watertown with the approval of town council, may enter into 1 or more leases for all or a portion of the properties known as the North Branch Library and the East Branch Library; provided, however, that any such lease shall be awarded pursuant to section 16 of chapter 30B of the General Laws and shall be made on such terms and conditions, including the length of the term thereof, as shall be determined by the town manager to be in the best interests of the town.

SECTION 2. A lessee selected pursuant to this act shall be solely responsible for the cost of all construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair and maintenance of the North Branch Library and the East Branch Library buildings and grounds, collectively referred to herein as improvements, including the cost of any design services relative thereto. The design and construction of any such improvements shall be subject to the prior approval of the town of Watertown and shall be exempt from the General Laws related to the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, repair and maintenance of improvements to public property, including sections 38A½ to 38O, inclusive, of chapter 7 of the General Laws, section 39M of chapter 30 of the General Laws, chapter 30B of the General Laws, section 44A to 44H, inclusive, of chapter 149 of the General Laws and chapter 149A of the General Laws. Sections 26 to 27H, inclusive, of said chapter 149 shall apply to any contracts entered into by the lessee for the construction of such improvements.

SECTION 3. Prior to the construction of any improvements pursuant to this act, the lessee shall provide the town of Watertown with a performance and labor and materials payment bond in the amount of 100 per cent of the value of the improvements to be constructed and with certificates of insurance evidencing the existence of such coverage as the town manager shall determine to be in the best interests of the town.

SECTION 4. All improvements constructed pursuant to this act shall become and shall remain the property of the town of Watertown upon the termination of the lease or leases awarded pursuant to this act.